Quickly disconnectable electrical connector



July 16, 1963 w. F. HENNESSEY, JR 3,097,902

QUICKLY DISCONNECTABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 17, 1959 N F .n v R w mm Q N on mm o & Q 2 N 7 NM r 7 a ow M. u N 1 T m H mm l 8 /I I 1 k U m N I INVENTOR.

WALTER F- HENNESSEY, Jr. BY

ATTORYS July 16, 1963 w. F. HENNESSEY, JR 3,097,902

QUICKLY DISCONNECTABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 17, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F; 4 INVENTOR.

y WALTER F. HENNESSEY,-Jr.

ATTO ysvs rates tnt 3,097,9(l2 QIHCKLY DISCONNECTABLE ELEQTRKCAL CONNECTOR Walter F. Hennessey, In, Sidney, N.Y., assignor to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 860,216 15 Claims. (Cl. 339-45) This invention relates to a separable electrical connector. The connector of the illustrative embodiment is particularly adapted for use in, although not restricted to, applications wherein the respective parts are mounted upon bodies which are selectively retained together and separated from each other. One use for which the connector is particularly well adapted is the rapid separation of the connector parts while the bodies to which they are connected are in flight.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a novel separable electrical connector.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a separable electrical connector having the two main parts thereof adapted to be connected to bodies which are selectively held together and released from each other.

Still a further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved separable electrical connector having power means for disconnecting the two connector parts, whereby to allow their separation.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved separable electrical connector of the type indicated having an improved simple mechanism for locking the two connector parts together, such mechanism being easily operated both to lock the connector parts together and to unlock them to permit their separation.

Still a further object of the invention lies in the provision, in a separable electrical connector of the type indicated immediately above, of an improved mechanism for positively thrusting the two connector parts away from each other during the unlocking operation.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like par-ts throughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is an exploded view, partially in vertical axial section taken on line 11 of FIG. 2 and partially in side elevation, of a separable electrical connector made in accordance with the invention, the two main parts of the connector being shown aligned but separated from opera tive engagement;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical axial section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 through the contact socket-carrying portion of the connectors shown in FIG. 1, such portion being shown with the parts thereof in the positions which they have when the connector parts are operatively engaged;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation of the contact pincarrying portion of the connector shown in FIG. 1, the view being taken from the line 33 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a view in end elevation of the contact socketcarrying portion of the separable electrical connector shown in FIG. 1, the view being taken from the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

The embodiment of separable electrical connector shown is particularly adapted for use in applications wherein two bodies are selectively held together or disconnected from each other, and there is an electrical circuit which extends from one body to the other which is broken when the two bodies are separated from each other. Small target or drone airplanes, which are carried aloft by a mother airplane and are there separated therefrom, present a need for such separable connector, since the drone airplane has one or more mechanisms, which is supplied with power and/ or signals while it remains attached to the mother airplane. Another application in which such separable electrical connector may be used to advantage is with missiles having separable nose cones, the main part of the connector being associated with the body of the missile and the other part thereof being connected to the separable nose cone. Such construction allows the nose cone to be separated from the body of the missile while the two are in flight.

It is desirable that separable electrical connectors for the above application, as well as for various other uses, shall incorporate a mechanism which strongly and surely thrusts the two connector parts away from each other, thereby to insure their clean separation. In addition, the two connector parts should be strongly and securely connected together, when operatively engaged, and such connection should be such that it may be quickly and simply effective. The illustrative electrical connector fulfills all such requirements satisfactorily, and fulfills the above-stated objects of the invention by novel combinations of elements to be described.

In FIG. 1 there is shown an illustrative embodiment of separable electrical connector in accordance with the invention, the contact pin-carrying portion 10 being shown aligned with but substantially separated from the other, socket contact-carrying connector part 11. Connector part 10 has an outer metal shell 12 in which there is supported a rubber-like insert generally designated 14 in which there are mounted a plurality of parallel contact pins 15 (one shown). Shell 12 has a cable clamp 17 afiixed to the rear end thereof, a cable (not shown) extending through the clamp and having its wires connected to the respective pin contacts. In FIG. 1, one wire 16 is shown extending through the cable clamp and connected to the single con-tact pin shown.

Connector part 10 may, for example, be connected to the skin of a drone airplane through the medium of the annular flange 13 extending about the shell. In such installation, the forward end of the shell is exposed so as to permit ready connection thereto and disconnection therefrom of the other connector part 11. The forward end of shell 12 beyond flange 18 is in the form of a hood 19 which surrounds the outer exposed ends of the contact pins 15. The hood 19 not only protects the pins 15, however, but also provides a part of the means for aligning the two connector parts 10 and 11 and for detachably securing them together. Thus hood 19 is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced grooves 20, 20' parallel to the axis of the connector, as shown more clearly in FIG. 3, and a plurality (three shown) of radially directed pins 29 projecting from its outer surface cooperating with means on connector part 11 to pull the connector parts 10 and 11 into operative engagement and to maintain them in such condition until they are deliberately released.

Connector part 11 has a metal shell 21 in which there is mounted a rubber-like insert 22 carrying a plurality of parallel socket contacts, of which one is shown at 24. In normal installations a multi-conductor cable is connected to the rear end of connector part 11 as by potting material imbedding the end of the cable end held within a potting sleeve 26 attached to a hollow nut 47 threaded onto the rear end of shell 21. In FIG. 1 a single wire 25 is shown attached to the contact socket 24 shown at the solder well 23.

The outer, forward end of shell 21 is provided on its outer surface with a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs 27, 27' which have such size and spacing as accurately and snugly to interfit with grooves 2t), 2t), thereby keying the connector parts and 11 together against relative rotation. A sleeve 30 is rotatably mounted coaxial of shell 21, the sleeve 30 surrounding the forward end of the shell and having an inner diameter such as to fit accurately over the hood 19 on connector part 10. The inner surface of sleeve 30 is provided with three angularly spaced helical grooves 37 which receive the pins 29 on hood 19 to draw the connector parts together when the sleeve 30 is rotated relative to shell 21. Sleeve 30 is rotated by a hand gripped disc 31 which is integral with sleeve 30 and is connected to the rear end thereof. The sleeve 30 and the disc 31 are prevented from escape forwardly of shell 21, while being allowed some degree of resilient motion axially thereof, in the following manner. Shell 21 has a narrow outwardly projecting annular flange 32, and disc 31 has a narrow inwardly projecting flange 34 positioned outwardly of and aligned with flange 32. A second, rearwardly disposed inwardly extending wider flange 35 is provided on the rear edge of disc 31. Flanges 32, 34, and 35 form between them an annular space in which there is located a helical flat wire spring 36. The configuration of the spring 36 and the axial length of the thus-formed annular space are such that sleeve 30 is permitted to yield to some extent axially of shell 21, and to compress spring 36 in so doing, when the sleeve 30 engages pins 29 and is turned in such direction as to pull the connector parts 10 and 11 into fully engaged, operative relationship. The inner ends of helical grooves 37 are provided with seats (not shown) which stably receive pins 29 and retain the sleeve 30 from rotation when the connector parts are fully engaged. The structure of the means for retaining the connector parts together thus far described is substantially the same as that shown in Patent No. [2,984,811.

The means for disconnecting parts 10 and 11 of the connector is mounted on connector part 11. As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, a generally annular casing 39 is secured to shell '21 immediately to the rear of disc 31. Casing 39 has a radially inner wall 40, a radially outer wall 44, and a rear wall 45. Outer wall 44 extends forwardly substantially in contact with the rear surface of disc 31. The radially inner wall 40 extends forwardly a distance somewhat less than does wall 44, the forward edge of wall 40 rotatably abutting a rearwardly directed sleeve 43 rotatable with respect to disc 31. The described construction prevents sleeve 30 and disc 31 from moving rearwardly along shell 21, so that when sleeve 30 is turned in the connector-releasing direction it positively thrusts connector part 10 away vfrom connector part 11. The casing 39 is prevented from rotation with respect to shell 21 by means of a longitudinally extending key 41 on the casing which fits within a slot 42 in shell 21 and is held in axial position by nut 47 threaded onto the end of said shell.

Turning of sleeve 30 and disc 31 in the connectorreleasing direction is effected by rotatably driving a lug member 60 secured to disc 31 and located within housing 44. Abutment 60 is selectively moved clockwise from the position thereof shown in FIG. 2 by the actuation of an expansible explosive cartridge 49 mounted in a bore 50 in an enlargement extension 54 of casing 39. Cartridge 49, which has a forward expansible bellows end 51, is retained in place by a removable breach block 52 which is threaded into portion 54 as shown at 55. The outer end of breach block 52 is provided with a portion of an electrical Connector designated 56, such connector mounting two pin-contacts which, when energized from a suitable current source, cause the cartridge to explode and a portion 51 thereof to expand axially.

Within the curved passage 57 in casing 39 there is mounted a movable abutment made up of a first driving member 59, attached to sleeve 43, the above-mentioned lug member 60, a curved rod '61 connecting the two members 59 and 60, and a coil compression spring 62 interposed between members 59 and 60. When cartridge 49 is exploded and the forward portion 51 thereof expands, the composite abutment member is thrust clockwise from the position shown in FIG. l2 so that disc 31 is turned to disconnect the connector parts. The rod 61, which is slidably mounted relative to member 60, and spring 62, cushion the driving of disc 31, thereby avoiding any breaking of the parts.

The described driving of the member 60 causes disc 31 and sleeve 30 to turn in the connector-releasing direction. This causes the pins 29 to escape from their terminal seats at the ends of grooves 37, continued turning of disc 31 by the hammer member 60 causing sleeve 30 forcibly to thrust connector part 10 away from part 11, thereby insuring the clean and practically instantaneous separation of the two connector parts.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be expressly understood that various changes, such as in the relative dimensions of the parts, the materials used and the like, may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as Will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A releasable connector between aligned first and second bodies, comprising confronting attaching formations on the first and second bodies, the attaching formation on the first body comprising radially projecting pins thereon, the attaching formation on the second body comprising a rotatable sleeve with a plurality of helical grooves therein, the grooves being adapted to receive the radial pins and, upon rotation of the sleeve relative to the first body to draw the bodies together in operative connected relationship and to maintain them in such condition, and power means mounted on one of the bodies rapidly to rotate the sleeve in the connector part-releasing direction, said power means comprising a linearly expansible, explosively powered cartridge, means fixedly mounted on said one body for restraining expansion of said cartridge in one direction, and a thrust member operatively connected with said sleeve and adapted to be propelled by the cartridge in the other direction so as to rotate the sleeve relative to said bodies to release the same when the cartridge is energized.

2. A releasable connector as defined in claim 1 wherein the thrust member is bodily movable in an arcuate path concentric with the axis of the connector and has a lost motion connection with the sleeve permitting a limited movement of the thrust member :before it enters into thrusting relation with the sleeve to rotate the latter.

3. A releasable connector as defined in claim 2 wherein resilient means are interposed between the sleeve and the thrust member to function as a shock absorber.

4. A releasable connector as defined in claim 3 wherein the lost motion connection comprises an arcuate rod slidably received by the sleeve and the thrust member, and said resilient means comprise a compressible coil spring disposed about the rod.

5. A separable electrical connector having a first, main contact-carrying part and a second, main contact-carrying part, one of said contacts being a socket and the other of the contacts being a pin, each such part having a body, the body of one of the parts having radially projecting pins thereon and the body of the other of the parts having a rotatable sleeve with a plurality of helical grooves therein, the grooves being adapted to receive the radial pins and, upon rotation of the sleeve relative to the first body to draw the bodies together in operative connected relationship and to maintain them in such condition, and power means mounted on one of said bodies rapidly to rotate the sleeve in the connector part-releasing direction, said power means comprising a linearly expansible, ignitable cartridge, means fixedly mounted on said one body for directing the expansion of said cartridge, and a thrust block in the path of said cartridge and operably connected to the sleeve so as to rotate the sleeve to release the connector parts when the cartridge is ignited.

6. A separable electrical connector as defined in claim 5, wherein the thrust block is rotatable about the axis of the connector and has a lost motion connection with the sleeve permitting a limited movement of the thrust block before it enters into thrusting engagement with the sleeve.

7. A separable electrical connector as defined in claim 6, wherein resilient means are interposed between the sleeve and the thrust block to function as a shock absorber.

'8. A separable electrical connector as defined in claim 7, wherein the thrust block and the sleeve are connected by an arcuate rod on which they are slidably mounted, and the resilient means is a coil compression spring disposed about the rod.

9. An electrical connector comprising two separable main parts, coupling means mounted on one of said parts for angular movement relative thereto and for cooperative engagement with the other of said parts for detachably coupling said parts together, and power means comprising a combustible charge and an expansible bellows mounted on said one part for imparting angular movement to said coupling means to move the same to uncoupling position to release said parts from connection to each other.

10. An electrical connector as defined in claim 9 comprising means for transmitting the energy of said power means from said bellows to said coupling means.

11. An electrical connector as defined in claim 9 comprising a driving member actuated by said power means, and means for guiding said driving member in an arcuate path adjacent the periphery of said one part.

12. An electrical connector as defined in claim 11 comprising resilient means interposed :between said driving member and said coupling means.

13. An electrical connector as defined in claim 11 wherein said driving member is mounted on a ring captively mounted for rotary movement on said one part.

14. An electrical connector as defined in claim 9 comprising guide means on said one part for constraining the expansion of said bellows to an arcuate path along the periphery of said one part.

15. An electrical connector as defined in claim 9 wherein said coupling means comprises a sleeve captively mounted on said one part and having cam mean-s thereon for imparting relative axial movement to said parts when said sleeve is moved angularly relative thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,030,803 Temple Feb. 11, 1936 2,482,464 Chapman Sept. 20, 1949 2,642,474 Bowar June 16, 1953 2,753,202 Smith et a l. July 3, 1956 2,788,243 Goodliife et a1. Apr. 9, 1957 2,847,652 Kokalas Aug. 12, 1958 2,984,811 Hennessey et al. May 16, 1961 3,025,487 Hennessey Mar. 13, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 820,017 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Western Aviation Publication, vol. 39, No. 6, June 1959, p. 28. 

1. A RELEASABLE CONNECTOR BETWEEN ALIGNED FIRST AND SECOND BODIES, COMPRISING CONFRONTING ATTACHING FORMATIONS ON THE FIRST AND SECOND BODIES, THE ATTACHING FORMATION ON THE FIRST BODY COMPRISING RADIALLY PROJECTING PINS THEREON, THE ATTACHING FORMATION ON THE SECOND BODY COMPRISING A ROTATABLE SLEEVE WITH A PLURALITY OF HELICAL GROOVES THEREIN, THE GROOVES BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE RADIAL PINS, AND, UPON ROTATION OF THE SLEEVE RELATIVE TO THE FIRST BODY TO DRAW THE BODIES TOGETHER IN OPERATIVE CONNECTED RELATIONSHIP AND TO MAINTAINER THEM IN SUCH CONDITION, AND POWER MEANS MOUNTED ON ON OF THE BODIES RAPIDLY TO ROTATE THE SLEEVE IN THE CONNECTOR PART-RELEASING DIRECTION, SAID POWER MEANS COMPRISING A LINEARLY EXPANSIBLE, EXPOSIVELY POWERED CARTRIDGE, MEANS FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID ONE BODY FOR RESTRAINING EXPANSION OF SAID CARITRIDGE IN ONE DIRECTION, AND A THRUST MEMBER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID SLEEVE AND ADAPTED TO BE PROPELLED BY THE CARTRIDGE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION SO AS TO ROTATE THE SLEEVE RELATIVE TO SAID BODIES TO RELEASE THE SAME WHEN THE CARTRIDGE IS ENERGIZED. 